A solid eighteen carat white gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak wristwatch. This is an unusual miniature version of Gerald Genta's sporting watch icon. This might well be the most interesting yet. This dial is a stunning mother of pearl that is ice blue, and is set with a series of princess cut diamond hour markers. This example, in all eighteen carat white gold with the factory diamond bezel, is a real "safe queen" example that everyone looks in a size that is no longer offered in their current line-up. AP have relaunched a mini size in 23mm, but this is the original version launched in 1997 in an even more delicate and precious 20mm.

This model is a non-date version keeping the overall appearance very clean indeed. The AP logo is cut from white gold and pinned to the dial at the twelve o’clock position, along with the Tritium filled hour markers. These dials are very complicated and exceptionally expensive to create.

The watch is powered by the AP quartz movement. meaning maintenance is very simple with the watch, with no date to worry about. After celebrating its 50th birthday last year, the Royal Oak, along with the Patek Philippe Nautilus, both designed by Gérald Genta, are now the most iconic ‘sports’ watches ever designed.

This is an example from the 1990's. This has the later classic deployant buckle, which opens from the middle and has the folding safety catch. The condition is superb throughout, unpolished, and razor sharp which is how these watches must be maintained. Polishing them ruins all the original, intricate case angles. The dial is perfect along with the white gold hands.

This is a great watch to wear. Rare in itself, very few examples being produced by AP. Although a smaller size, it wear very well, and is perfect for those looking for a smaller take on the sporting icon. This example dates to circa 1997. It is presented with the beautiful wooden AP box and original paper work.

So few of these watches were made when they were launched in the late 1990's. They never seem to surface, and in this iteration with the factory white gold diamond set bezel and MOP dial, they are even more rare. This is a special watch, complete with all the paperwork and box, in perfect condition that is going to become a future grail watch.